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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:42 pm Post subject: That picture on your CV: what NOT to do |
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Im having my mug shot taken on Thursday, and just realized that I may not know what constitutes a professional appearance in the eyes of the Japanese. Can anyone give me some do's and don't's?
For example: are certain colors of clothing preferred over others? Are any colors considered completely innappropriate? Are prints considered unprofessional?
I've been told that jewelery should be kept to the bare minimum.
Is long hair on women frowned upon, or should I put it up in a bun?
Is it better to smile or to look serious?
Sorry if this post seems a bit frivolous, but I just don't want to inadvertently do something stupid if it can be avoided. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| some official requirements actually state "no smile" so best to look serious I'd say |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| Don't send them photos of you on the beach in Mexico. Seriously, don't have lots of jewellery or have a silly grin on your face. Most Japanese women cover their mouth when they smile. |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| shmooj wrote: |
| some official requirements actually state "no smile" so best to look serious I'd say |
Yep, that would have been the first mistake I would have made...  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:02 am Post subject: Re: That picture on your CV: what NOT to do |
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| KarenMarie wrote: |
For example: are certain colors of clothing preferred over others? Are any colors considered completely innappropriate? Are prints considered unprofessional?
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Japanese work places are fairly conservative though most Japanese themselves arent. A good rule of them is 'to keep it business-like without being overformal.
I would avoid aloha shirts and loud flashy colours. Perhaps if you have a light colored blouse with a blazer or jacket over the top. generally sleeveless blouses are frowned on but probably wont show up in a photograph or you can wear a jacket over it.
| KarenMarie wrote: |
I've been told that jewelery should be kept to the bare minimum.
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Not that I wear jewelry at all, but most Japanese women in an office do not really wear loud dangley earrings etc, but may wear pierced earrings or studs. You dont want to have something that draws attention away from your face. Necklaces etc are OK as well.
| KarenMarie wrote: |
Is long hair on women frowned upon, or should I put it up in a bun?
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Many Japanese women have long hair in their passport or identity photos and wear it straight etc. Having dyes or tints in your hair may be frowned upon as well.
Just remember that foreigners by definition dont always have to appear or behave the same as a Japanese do in terms of appearance but as long as its tidy and presentable and suitable for working in an office you should be OK. You dont really have to come across as a school headmistress with an ultra-conservative look.
| KarenMarie wrote: |
Is it better to smile or to look serious?
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Japanese generally do not smile for official photos like passports, wedding photos etc but snapshots etc they will usually mug it up for the camera.
You dont want to look as though you have just been arrested.
I usually smile for my photos and its never done me any harm. Do whatever you feel comfortable with- Japan is generally a pretty conservative place but they will cut you a lot of slack because you are a foreigner. |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| Don't send them photos of you on the beach in Mexico. Seriously, don't have lots of jewellery or have a silly grin on your face. Most Japanese women cover their mouth when they smile. |
In all sincerety, what sort of facial expression am I supposed to have? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:10 am Post subject: |
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| Just look pleased and that you want the job. Don't show lots of teeth, a little would be OK. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:12 am Post subject: |
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[quote="KarenMarieIn all sincerety, what sort of facial expression am I supposed to have?[/quote]
Do you have a photo on your drivers licence? In your class yearbook? What about the one for your passport?
Usually a passport style photo is OK, with a clear head and shoulders shot, and keep your hair away from your face. Some people wear contacts etc if they wear heavy-frame glasses or sunglasses.
Beach shots or you or informal snapshots, or mugging for the camera, are usually inappropriate. |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:32 am Post subject: Re: That picture on your CV: what NOT to do |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| KarenMarie wrote: |
For example: are certain colors of clothing preferred over others? Are any colors considered completely innappropriate? Are prints considered unprofessional?
. |
Japanese work places are fairly conservative though most Japanese themselves arent. A good rule of them is 'to keep it business-like without being overformal.
I would avoid aloha shirts and loud flashy colours. Perhaps if you have a light colored blouse with a blazer or jacket over the top. generally sleeveless blouses are frowned on but probably wont show up in a photograph or you can wear a jacket over it.
| KarenMarie wrote: |
I've been told that jewelery should be kept to the bare minimum.
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Not that I wear jewelry at all, but most Japanese women in an office do not really wear loud dangley earrings etc, but may wear pierced earrings or studs. You dont want to have something that draws attention away from your face. Necklaces etc are OK as well.
| KarenMarie wrote: |
Is long hair on women frowned upon, or should I put it up in a bun?
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Many Japanese women have long hair in their passport or identity photos and wear it straight etc. Having dyes or tints in your hair may be frowned upon as well.
Just remember that foreigners by definition dont always have to appear or behave the same as a Japanese do in terms of appearance but as long as its tidy and presentable and suitable for working in an office you should be OK. You dont really have to come across as a school headmistress with an ultra-conservative look. ] |
Would it help if I did? What look do they consider ideal, anyway?
| KarenMarie wrote: |
Is it better to smile or to look serious?
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Japanese generally do not smile for official photos like passports, wedding photos etc but snapshots etc they will usually mug it up for the camera.
You dont want to look as though you have just been arrested.
I usually smile for my photos and its never done me any harm. Do whatever you feel comfortable with- Japan is generally a pretty conservative place but they will cut you a lot of slack because you are a foreigner.[/quote]
Thanks. That helps a lot.
I don't just want them to cut me slack for being a foreigner, I want them to like me.
I recall reading somewhere that Japanese students feel they lose face in their teacher is slovenly and unprofessional-looking. I don't know if there is any truth to that or not, but at the least I want to present myself as someone who wants to fit in and be considerate of their standards. |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| [quote="KarenMarieIn all sincerety, what sort of facial expression am I supposed to have? |
Do you have a photo on your drivers licence? In your class yearbook? What about the one for your passport?
Usually a passport style photo is OK, with a clear head and shoulders shot, and keep your hair away from your face. Some people wear contacts etc if they wear heavy-frame glasses or sunglasses.
Beach shots or you or informal snapshots, or mugging for the camera, are usually inappropriate.[/quote]
I'm going to the portrait studio at Wal-Mart for a head-and shoulders shot against a plain background. It's cheap (about $6)n and they'll give me my shots on disk.
Thanks for telling me to keep my hair away from my face. (Mistake #2 avoided  ) Anyway, I have long straight hair. Is it enough to pin the front of it up away from my face and let the back hang behind my shoulders , or should I just put all of it up?
I have no need whatsoever to express my individuality here. I just want to know how they want me to look so I can look that way. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:13 am Post subject: Re: That picture on your CV: what NOT to do |
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| KarenMarie wrote: |
ust remember that foreigners by definition dont always have to appear or behave the same as a Japanese do in terms of appearance but as long as its tidy and presentable and suitable for working in an office you should be OK. You dont really have to come across as a school headmistress with an ultra-conservative look. ][/quote]
Would it help if I did? What look do they consider ideal, anyway?
| KarenMarie wrote: |
If you already look like a school mistress thats fine too. remember that 90% of the people that come over here are fresh out of college, are going into their first jobs. Not every one dresses like a wall street banker though.
Teaching English, for better or worse is a business where you are serving the public, it is a service industry and appearance counts for a lot. Just as long as you dont look as you are going to beach, by wearing sandals, open-toe shoes jeans and tank tops anything is OK. If you are woman I would avoid showing too much cleavage as well, but that probably goes without saying.
Most schools will simply want women to dress professionally and conservatively though depending on the school dress codes can be more casual. I teach at a university and some teachers wear denim type shirts and polo shirts and the women wear blouses and pants suits etc.
Is it better to smile or to look serious?
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Thanks. That helps a lot.
I don't just want them to cut me slack for being a foreigner, I want them to like me.
I recall reading somewhere that Japanese students feel they lose face in their teacher is slovenly and unprofessional-looking. I don't know if there is any truth to that or not, but at the least I want to present myself as someone who wants to fit in and be considerate of their standards. [/quote]
If you look serious about your dress and appearance, are not slovenly and untidy you will have no problems with being accepted. they are not hiring you for what you wear but the fact you are an English native speaker, and i guess an American. Anything else is gravy. They will like you if you are enthusiastic, sociable, show lots of energy and interest in bing in Japan and teaching. These things dont really show up in a Cv photograph.
By treating you as a foreigner, I was meaning that there are some foreigners who 'try too hard' and go native. This can be self-defeating and they will think you are a bit odd or a 'hen na gaijin'. Just be yourself, as they dont expect you to be any different than you already are. You cant be Japanese and they dont expect you to behave or act like one.
As I said, dont look like you came in with the last tide, look like a 'backpacker' in sandals wanting to get a 'professional' teaching job (which by the way pays about $2000 a month or $25,000 a year)
They are paying you to do a job in front of the paying public, and the least you can do is dress for the occasion and suitable for working in an office.
You dont have to dress like you are going to a wedding, but not like you have just got off the plane from Bali either.
[quote="KarenMarie
I recall reading somewhere that Japanese students feel they lose face in their teacher is slovenly and unprofessional-looking. I don't know if there is any truth to that or not, but at the least I want to present myself as someone who wants to fit in and be considerate of their standards. [/quote]
There is no reason you should dress slovenly in the first place, unless you have some kind of personal aversion to tidy dress and professional attire.
There are some schools that dont mind casual attire (as most of them are paying for whats on the inside of you, not on the outside) while some schools go so far as make teachers wear a 'uniform' of a suit and tie etc for men and low heel shoes for women and stockings etc.
When you consider that the average student at NOVA has handed over up to $5000 for a years worth of lessons before they take a class, and then they get a teacher who doesnt care about their appearance or dress it can seem unprofessional and they lack respect for the teacher (p.s. this has come up on this forum before where some conversation teachers believe they are respected as of right because they are the teacher and speak English etc but i believe respect has to be earned, by showing you know what you are doing, you are knowledgeable etc. they will not respect you if you dress too casually or have bad posture, seem ignorant about what you are doing etc. Students know a bad teacher when they see one and will talk among themselves about it)
It is fairly easy to 'fit in' to the society without going overboard and trying to become Japanese. they will be friendly and hospitable, will not expect you to know all the ropes and social etiquettes etc and will appreciate it if you make an effort. They will not expect you to learn or understand Japanese though some may be genuinely surprised if you can master the language.
there are only a few social taboos and no-no's that you should know about that apply to foreigners equally which you will learn about, but the rest, people here dont expect you to know or learn straight away. |
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easyasabc
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 179
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:37 am Post subject: Re: That picture on your CV: what NOT to do |
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| KarenMarie wrote: |
| Im having my mug shot taken on Thursday, and just realized that I may not know what constitutes a professional appearance in the eyes of the Japanese. Can anyone give me some do's and don't's? |
Karen Marie,
Don't worry too much aout this. I think the main thing they are trying to see from the picture is how you generally look. If they get a picture from someone who is scruffy and very unprofessinal looking or a punk hairdo and lots of pieercings they obviously wouldn't be impreseed but if they get a picture of a generally well presented person they'll be as happy as you can possibly be from just looking at a head and shoulders shot of someone. As long as you are well presented in basic business-ish/conservative way you'll be fine. Your long hair will be no problems as long as it it done nicely and not messy looking. A bit of jewellery like a necklace or small earrings are fine.
If you have a head and shouldres shot they wont be able to see much of what you are wearing so I'd say just go with whatever colour suits you best. I teach business classes here and I always wear a suit or something similar but that's what I was used to wearing back home so it feels pretty standard to me. Sometimes I wear dark colours (like the black pants and jacket I wore yesterday) and other times I wear brighter colours (I have a red suit too), sometimes plain shirts under my suit sometimes patterned - it really doesn't seem to be an issue. My students often comment on my clothes and say they like them.
Same with the smile/no smile thing. Some people here (and in other countries) do put on a serious face for official photos such as passports but some of my photos on things (like the ID pass for one of the companies I go to) has a picture where I'm smiling a bit and that is fine.
You probably look nicer with a biit of a smile anyway right? |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 5:09 pm Post subject: My two bits... |
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Before I came to Japan, I took a picture of myself for the sole purpose of using it on my CV. So it was taken with a fairly neutral background, and I was dressed formally (shirt & tie) and I was also cleanly shaven and just gotten a haircut.... I know that many will beg to differ with me on these points, but I had read in more than a few sources that Japanese employers like the "American-Boy-Next-Door" look.... I understand that the "Gaijin-Girl-Next-Door" look is good too...
If you're not a good photographer, and don't know anyone who can help without going to a studio, you can always put an ad in the local artist-to-artist column of a newspaper. They are usually free to place, and a beginning journalism student or semi-pro photographer will love to gain some experience or earn a few extra bucks.
I would tend to stay away from "official" photos if at all possible, e.g. D/L, passport, graduation, etc.... If they really want to see your passport photo they will ask for it....
If you want to see my picture, you can see it online here:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~dk8a-jns/personal/arj2.jpg
Did it work for me? I dunno... I AM employed I guess...
Anyway, good luck on your mug shot shoot... 
P.S. The above photo was taken by my wife using a digital camera on an outdoor shoot last fall. I photoshopped out the background and put in a "canvas" to make it look more like a studio photo.
P.P.S. How old do you think I am?? |
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guest of Japan
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 1601
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| That is a screaming blue shirt. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| I'd say you look 29, Jim. |
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